Word is the White Sox aren’t willing to offer a 72-hour negotiating window for Mark Buehrle. Can’t understand that decision if they have no intention of re-signing him.
A team would have to be desperate, not to mention stupid, to give up multiple prospects for a rental.
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No question…You don’t touch Buehrle without it. John, I noticed Gomez smells his bat before every at bat. From published interviews, I understand he is “smelling hits”. If this is the case, tell the kid to give Delgado a whiff tonight!
I’d be willing to bet someone will spring for Buehrle even without the window. Several teams are desperate for pitching.
A team would also be desperate – and stupid – to pursue Jose Contreras, based on his numbers. He’d be a downgrade to the rotation. I’d grudgingly part with a bag of jockstraps for him.
Sounds like Buehrle isn’t interested in one of those “shotgun weddings” where he’s asked to sign a five-year deal based on a day or two of negotiations. If that’s the case, it should drop Chicago’s asking price.
As for Contreras, the Mets are reportedly interested because he’s under contract for another two years. I’m not all that excited about the prospect of a 36-yr-old (if his birth certificate can be believed) with an ERA over 4.50.
I seem to remember the Mets trading for a certain HOF catcher who was in his walk year without a 72 hour window, and they eventually signed him. If you are in big need you do it to win now. More prospects don’t become stars than do, and Pelfrey has shown no star portential and Humber already has one TJ surgery on his resume, and who knows if Millege will blossom or become the Pacman Jones of baseball. But I don’t think this is the guy to take the risk on. He’s good but not a superstar. Lets see where the needs are in July. More pitchers will pop up as teams give up.
Screw the Whitesox, The Mets dont need a rental. I hope the sox finish in last place and the cubs win the division to rub it in thier faces.
What’s the market like for relievers? Give the Rangers a call and see what they want for Gagne or Otsuka. Either one of them would give the Mets back the intimidating eight inning guy like they had with Sanchez. Gagne is a free agent and will get a huge deal if he stays healthy, but Otsuka would still be under control for another two years. This staff has been better than expected, but it would be a lot more fun if they could play six or seven inning games like last year…
I don’t see it happening with Gagne. The only reason he put the Mets on the list of acceptable teams is because he knows it won’t happen. He wants to be a closer, and the Mets already have one who happens to be having one of the best seasons of any closer in either league.
I wonder if the Astros would be willing to move Lidge and what they would want in return. A change of scenery, setting up for Wags instead of closing and working with Peterson could really help him. He still has the nasty stuff, I just think his head is a little messed up and his confidence is shot. I’m thinking Heilman & Milledge?
It seems to be what is most lacking is the right handed power arm. Lidge with the heater and slider and Mota with the heat and change would be real good, different looks out of the pen and give Willie a few choices.
Don’t know much about him.
His stats look good, but pressure transactions I no like.
Also giving up all that is discussed here for a rental is STUPID.
The buzz has always been that he wants to play in St. Louis. They may not be offering the window because theres no chance of him signing a deal elsewhere.
Buerhle, if he became a “rental,” would also give the Mets a first round draft pick and a sandwich pick between the first and second rounds. I can’t believe this isn’t part of the discussion. The last time the Mets “lost” a Type A free agent (Mike Hampton), they got a couple players named David Wright and Aaron Heilman. These draft picks pan out a lot better than the prospects often dealt in these transactions. See this post at U.S.S. Mariner: http://ussmariner.com/2007/06/20/letting-ichiro-leave-for-nothing/